Process for the disposal of acid wastes combining them with asbestos containing materials and/or concrete

Abstract

An accelerated process for the complete neutralization of acid wastes, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) includes forming a slurry or suspension by submerging in the acid solution the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs); the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) cause the acid wastes neutralizing chemical reactions in the slurry or suspension and, at the same time, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Simultaneously to the chemical reactions, the slurry or suspension is subjected to hydrodynamic cavitation, preferably using an apparatus capable of producing and managing three types of simultaneous controlled cavitation acting in the same space volume, accelerating the chemical reactions taking place in the slurry due also to the simultaneous presence of acid, concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are preferably ground and polarized prior to be submerged in the acid solution to form the slurry. The polarization take place, for the really first time, with a cold plasma torch. In addition the slurry or suspension is preferably subjected to hydrothermal treatment, preferably using a reactor which ensures the preservation of the constancy of the ideal physical parameters for the reaction in the physical chemical environment. In this reactor are additivated chemicals, hydroxyapatite and biological substances that have binder/chelating power especially on metals contained in asbestos, especially on magnesium, in order to prevent its reformation. Recovering, at the end of the process, inert secondary raw materials (SRMs) that are non-hazardous to the environment and human health. In addition, this process could be used to produce molecules that are important intermediates of the subsequent reactions/processes, leading to the formation of salts/compounds used as dietary supplements and also in important environmental remedies such as polluted water reclamation and the treatment of heavily polluted soils.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the neutralization of acid wastes, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), comprising:
 forming a slurry or suspension immerging concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in an acid solution; and 
 subjecting the slurry or suspension to hydrodynamic cavitation. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of grinding the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials to obtain concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles, prior to the step of forming a slurry or suspension. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 2 , wherein the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles obtained by grinding the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials are sized from 0.1 to 50 millimeters. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 2 , further comprising a step of polarizing the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles obtained by grinding the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials, prior to the step of forming a slurry or suspension. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 4 , wherein the step of polarizing the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles comprises subjecting the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles to a cold plasma torch. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a slurry or suspension by immersing the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles in the acid solution comprises combining the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials with an acid solution. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the acid solution comprises at least one inorganic acid. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the acid solution comprises at least one organic acid. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the acid solution comprises a waste liquid originated in a separate industrial process. 
     
     
       10. The process of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of acidifying the waste liquid. 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 10 , wherein said step of increase the acidity of the waste liquid comprises adding genetically modified microorganisms to the waste liquid, the microorganisms reacting with components of the slurry or suspension and demolishing the molecular structure of said components. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of applying a cavitation to the forming slurry or suspension. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of applying a hydrothermal treatment to the slurry or suspension, after the step of subjecting the slurry or suspension to cavitation. 
     
     
       14. The process of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrothermal treatment is carried out in a hydrothermal reactor at a temperature of 50 to 300° C. and with an internal pressure from 1 to 60 atm. 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of recovering at least one inert, secondary raw material from the slurry or suspension, after the step of applying a hydrothermal treatment to the slurry or suspension. 
     
     
       16. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials, if presents, comprise at least one of a friable or compact matrix material. 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 16 , wherein the asbestos-containing materials, if presents, comprise at least one of cement, concrete, gypsum and vinyl. 
     
     
       18. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the asbestos-containing materials, if presents, comprise natural rock containing asbestos. 
     
     
       19. A method for the neutralization of acid waste comprising the steps of:
 forming a slurry or suspension immerging concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials in the acid solution; 
 subjecting the slurry or suspension to hydrodynamic cavitation; 
 applying a hydrothermal treatment to the slurry or suspension, after the step of subjecting the slurry or suspension to cavitation; 
 the hydrothermal treatment can be carried out in a Plug Flow Reactor; 
 produce at least one inert, secondary raw material from the slurry or suspension after hydrothermal treatment. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for the neutralization of acid waste comprising the steps of:
 forming a slurry or suspension by immerging concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles in the acid solution which react chemically with the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles; 
 increase the acidity of the waste liquid comprises adding genetically modified microorganisms to the waste liquid, the microorganisms reacting with components of the slurry or suspension and demolishing the molecular structure of said components; 
 subjecting the slurry or suspension to hydrodynamic cavitation simultaneously to the reacting of the concrete and/or asbestos-containing particles with the acid solution; 
 applying a hydrothermal treatment to the slurry or suspension, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is carried out in a hydrothermal reactor at a temperature of 50 to 300° C. and with an internal pressure from 1 to 60 atm; 
 recovering at least one inert liquid, solid or gaseous secondary raw material after the step of applying a hydrothermal treatment to the slurry or suspension.